A fishing pier designed to withstand violent ice melt on Oneida Lake is struggling to make it through its first winter.

Sullivan officials dedicated the handicapped-accessible pier at Chapman Park last May, after more than 10 years of brainstorming, planning and design. Town officials matched a $260,000 state grant to fund the project, which won awards from the American Public Works Association and the Central New York Parks and Recreation Society.

“It is really is the crown jewel of our facilities here,” said Jim Raulli, town parks and recreation director.

But early ice movement is causing problems at the park, located between Bridgeport and Lakeport on Route 31.

The story is nothing new for longtime lake residents. Some years, strong winds shove huge chunks of ice onto shore, where it grinds away at docks, seawalls, sidewalks and even buildings. The east end of the lake is most susceptible, getting pounded as ice is pushed by prevailing winds from the west.

In other years, the ice disappears quickly and quietly.

This year, Sylvan Beach officials have reported damage from ice melts that have pushed stones from the park’s seawall and engulfed a light pole.

Such difficulties were part of the discussion over whether to build a permanent pier or a floating seasonal pier. At times, Sullivan Supervisor John Becker himself questioned the project.

“We’re really afraid that a permanent pier that can stand up to the ice and (winter) weather will cost too much,” he told the Post-Standard in 2007.

Engineers settled on a design that supported the 200-foot-long pier with five steel columns filled with heavy stones known as riprap.

Raulli said the stones were designed to break up the ice as it came toward the shore, protecting the pier itself from damage.

Instead, the ice chunks and the rocks piled up under the timber bridge decks, pushing the dock off its foundation.

“It happened so quickly,” said Raulli.

Becker said he isn’t sure whether to blame Mother Nature or the pier’s design.

The former would mean the damage might not be covered by the town’s insurance policy. Last spring, the town bore the costs of $20,000 in tree cleanup after a tornado touched down in Sullivan Park.

“They call it an act of God,” Becker said.

For now, local officials can only watch, wait and hope that the pier settles back into position after the ice melts.